Life In The Middle Ages Vocab

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Armor

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the metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers or warriors to protect the body in battle

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bishop

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a senior member of the Christian clergy, typically in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders.

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cardinal

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a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals are nominated by the pope and form the Sacred College, which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number)

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castle

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a large building or group of buildings fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat.

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catholic church

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short for Roman Catholic Church.

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chivalry

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knights, noblemen, and horsemen collectively.the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak, courteous behavior, especially that of a man toward women.

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clergyman

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a male priest, minister, or religious leader, especially a Christian one

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crusades

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a medieval military expedition, one of a series made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.

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estate

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an area or amount of land or property, in particular.an extensive area of land in the country, usually with a large house, owned by one person or organization.

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excommunication

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the act of banishing a member of a church from the communion of believers and the privileges of the church; cutting a person off from a religious society

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feudalism or feudal system

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the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.

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fief

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an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service.

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frair

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a member of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders

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heresy

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belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted.

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jester

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a professional joker or “fool” at a medieval court, typically wearing a cap with bells on it and carrying a mock scepter.a person who habitually plays the fool.

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inquisition

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a period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.a judicial or official inquiry.

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joust

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engage in a sports contest in which two opponents on horseback fight with lances.

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king

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the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.

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knight

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(in the Middle Ages) a man who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armor.

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lord

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someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.

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manor

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the mansion of a lord or wealthy person

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medieval period

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In European history, the Middle Ages, or Medieval period, lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery

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middle ages

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the period of European history from the fall of the Roman Empire in the West (5th century) to the fall of Constantinople (1453), or, more narrowly

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minstrels

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a medieval singer or musician, especially one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility.

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moat

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a deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle, fort, or town, typically filled with water and intended as a defense against attack.

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monastery

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a building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.

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monk

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a member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

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nobility

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the group of people belonging to the noble class in a country, especially those with a hereditary or honorary title.

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peasants

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a poor farmer of low social status who owns or rents a small piece of land for cultivation (chiefly in historical use or with reference to subsistence farming in poorer countries).

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pope

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the bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

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priest

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an ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church having the authority to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments.

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serfs

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an agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.

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tournaments

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a sporting event in which two knights (or two groups of knights) jousted on horseback with blunted weapons, each trying to knock the other off, the winner receiving a prize.

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troubadours

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a French medieval lyric poet composing and singing in Provençal in the 11th to 13th centuries, especially on the theme of courtly love.

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vassal

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a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.